Improved furnace for treating ores



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WV. KENDRICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED FURNACE FOR TREATING ORES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,717, dated October 31, 1865.

To all lwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WASHINGTON KENfv DRICK, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new aud usefulImprove-k ment in Furnaces for Treating Ore's; and I do hereby declare that the ollowingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will, enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of a furnace with a stack constructed according to this invention, the lines A B, Fig. 3, and A' B', Fig. 4, indicating the plane'of section. Fig. 2 is a similar section of the same, taken in the plane indicated bythe line C D, Fig. 3, and O' D', Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, the line A B, Fig. 1, indicating the plane ot' section. Fig. 4 is a similar section ofthe same, taken in the plane indicated by the line A' B', Fig. 1, and O' D',

Fig. 2. Fig. 5'is a vertical central section of the same, the line E" F", Fig. S, andE F, Fig. 3, indicating the plane ot' section. Fig. 6 is a similar section taken in the plane indicated by the line I" K", Fig. Sl, and I K, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar section, the line G H, Fig. 3, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 8 is a hor-` izontal section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line C" D", Fig. 2, and E" F", Fig. 5, and I" K", Fig. 6. Fig. 9is a ver tical central section ot a furnace without a stack, constructed according` to this invention,

' the line A B, Fig. 12, A' B', Fig. 14, and' A" B", Fig. 13, indicating the plane oi' section. Fig. 10 is a similar section ofthe same, taken Y in the plane indicated by the line O D, Fig. 12,

C", D" Fig. 13, and O' D', Fig. 14. Fig. l1 is a similar section of the same, the plane ofsection being indicated by the line E F, Fig. l2, E' F', Fig. 14, and E" F", Fig. 13.- Fig. 12 is a horizontal section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line A B, Fig. 9, G D, Fig. l0, and E F, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a wall M, which is providedwith an arched base,

similar section, the line A" B", Fig. 9, G"`D",

Fig. 10,- and E F, Fig. l1, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 14 is a similar section taken in the plane indicated by the line A' B', Fig. 9, C' D', Fig. l0, and E' F', Fig. 11. Figjl is a similar section of the same, the line A'" B'",

Fig. 9, and E'" F'", Fig. 1 1, indicating the plane ot1 section. Fig. 16 is a similar section ot' the same, the line A1" Bl", Fig. 9, and O1" DI", Fig. 10, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference iu all the figures indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a furnace which can be used for roasting, calcining, demlphurizing, reducing, and smelting orcs ot' any description, and which may be built with or without a cone according to the nature ot' the orc for which it is to be used.

[n the following description I will first explain the construction of the furnace with a cone, such as represented in Figs. 1 to 9, inelusive, and afterward I will point out the modifications required if the furnace is built without a stack.

L represeutsrthe foundation-wall of the furnace, which contains two g'rates, a, separated one from the other by a partition wall c. These grates are supplied with fuel through two doors, d, and the ashes and impurities discharged from the same collect in the cave e.

The side walls ofthe grates or lire-places may be made to rise above the level ot'Y the hearth or siegef of the furnace, or they may be level with the same, and they are provided with water-chambers g and steam and hot-air channels h, which are built in the side walls ofthe lire-places near their top edges, so that the steam and hot air issuing from them is thrown in between the llame and the ores or metal, which'may be placed on the hearth or which may be contained in crucibles arranged in suitable number on the sides of the tire-places. By this arrangement the full benefit ot' steam and hot air is obtained without reducing the temperature of the re. The combustible gases and volatile parts rising from the fireplaces and from the ores are consumed, and what vv,is technically termed a dead heat" is avoided. I The ores to be treated on the hearth are introduced and removed through doors i.

From the ground-wall L rises the furnace- N, at a short distance above the lire-places. This arched base is built ot'tire-briclgaud by the heat emanating from the fire-places its temperature is raised to a White heat, so that by its action the heat is evenly distributed through out the entire mass of ore contained in the upper part or stack, O. The dames and heated gases rising from the tires in the fire-places, after striking the arched base N, pass off through a series of ues,j, which are built in the furnace-wall. Through these iiues the heat may be made to pass up or down, dampers kl (see Fig. 2) being provided to regulate the direction in which the heat circulates. If the dampers 7c are closed and the dampers Z opened, the heat passes down below the hearth, where it circulates through a series of flues, m. (Best seen in Fig. 8.) Allthese ues communicate with a central horizontal flue, a, and they are so con structedth at they can be easily swept out and the products of combustion, together with the gases rising from the ores on the hearth,are drawn oit' through the flue 0 by means of a suction-blower, P, (best seen in Fig. 5,) the ilue o being built into or outside of the furnace-wall, as may be most convenient. A damper, p, closes this flue, if the heat is made to take a different course, and this damper is opened only when the dampers 7c, Fig. 2, are closed and the dampers l opened. Ifit is desired to throw the heat into the space above the arched base the dampers landp are closed and the dampers k are opened. In this case the heat, afterhaving heated the base N, passes up through the luesj and into the cone through a number of apertures, 1. (See Fig. 2, and others.) After having passed into the cone the heat rises up through the mass of ore contained in the same, and the products of combustion. together with the gases rising from the ores, are drawn oi' through a series ofues, r, and escape-line, s, by the action ot' the suction-blower P.. Each of the ues r, as wellas the escape-flue s, are provided with dampers t u, and the dampers t serve to regulate and tqualize the course ot' the heat through the healed mass ofores in the cone, whereas the damper u is opened whenever the heatis made topass up through the tluesj, but it is closed when the heat is made to pass down under the hearth, as previously described.

A door, fu, in the top part of the cone serves to introduce the charge, and doors w on opposite sides of the furnace, close above the arched base N, serve to discharge the ores.

In the side wall of the cone, close above the arched base, are built four (more or less) water-chambers, x, which are supplied with `lwater through pipes y, Fig. 4, and the contents of which can be discharged through pipes The steam which forms in these waterchambers discharges through a series of small jets, a, into the cone between the apertures q leading from the lues j into the cone, and at some distance above the arched base. By this arrangement the steam is brought in contact with every portion of the ore, and being rapidly absorbed by the same causes a more speedy disintegration andliberates all the impurities from the ores. An air-flue, b', built into the wall of the furnace, gives a chance to cool off said wall whenever it may be desirable, and also to regulate the temperature of the heated ores in the cone. This air-due eX- tends all round the furnace-wall, and access is had to it through. doors c, at its bottom. From its top extend four (more or less) dues, d, into thecone, a short distance below the dischargeilues r, and dampers e are provided, which serve to open or close the air-hues d.

When it is desired to cool oi' the furnacewall or to regulate the temperature of the heated o res the doors c and the dampers e are opened, and a current of cold air passes through the circular air-flue b and into the cone O. Air-channels j', leading from the outside through the furnace-wall into the firefluesj, serve to introduce currents of cold air, which mingle with the ames and assist in cooling or regulating the temperature of the ore in the cone O, and also that of the arched baseN. Theproducts ofcombustion and heated gases which escape from the furnace are passed by the action of the suction-blower P through the condenser Q.

For some classes ot' ore the high calcining chamber or cone above the arched base is omitted, and in this case the furnace is built as shown in Figs. 9 to 16, inclusive.

The grate arrangement is similar to that previously described, but the oxidizingchamber is placed above the arched base Nt, and the space below that base may be used for similar or other purposes. The heated gases and products ot' combustion rise from the fireplaces through ilues j* in the sides of the furnace-wall and pass into the oxidizing-chamber through openings qt; and for the purpose of carrying the heat down below the hearth, when desired, the dues ji 4 connect with a series of ground-lines, m* ai, as shown in Fig. 13, and these ground-hues communicate with the escape-tuevsit, to which a suction-blower may be applied, as previously described. Suitabler damper-s, It* l* p* 11.*, are provided to canse the heated gases and products of combustion to take the desired course.

From the arched baseN rises a partition-wall, 0*, which in the furnace first described is situated between the fire-places. This partitionwall c* extends diagonally through the oxidizing-chamber, and it rises up nearly to a level with the upper row of openings, (1*, through which the heated gases from the furnace have access to the oxidizing-chamber. 1n this partition-wall is secured the waterchamber 9*, (best seen in Fig. 16,) and it is also provided with a series ot' air-chambers, h, the steam and hot air being allowed to discharge in small jets into the oxidizing-chamber between the flame and the heated ore. The heated gases, after having done their Work in the oxidizingchambenpass off through lateral openings l in the sides of the partition-wall into lues 2,

,which communicate with the iues r* leading to the escape-flue 8*.

The flues 2 are provided with suitable doors,

3, as seen in Figs. 11 and let, so that the soot and ashes collecting in the same can be readily swept out and other doors give access to the fire-places and to the oxidizing-chamber, and also to the ues mi n* below the hearth, and to the ues j* in the sides of the furnacewall.

The great advantage of this arrangement of flues, steam and air chambers, and of the manner of regulating the heat and the supply of hot or cold air will be apparent to every practical smelter. For the purpose of calcining and roasting or desulphurizing the furnace with the cone or calcining-chamber is of incalculable value. The mass of ore is gradually heated from below, and the gases rising from the' same are carried off as fast as required bythe action of the suction-blower. The heat can be regulated so that all danger of burning dead or melting a portion of the ore can be easily avoided, the requisite amount of atmospheric air can be readily supplied to produce oxidation or desulphurization, and when it is desired to treat the ore with steam it is readily supplied by means of the water-chambers in the furnace-wall, (see Fig. 4,) and the operation of charging and discharging the furnace is facilitated. By the effect of the arched base the heat is evenly distributed throughout the entire mass of ore, and by the dampness in the ues 1' andj the heat can be increased or decreased in any part of the furnace, as may be desired, or if it becomes necessary to cool oft', cold air is admitted to the annular air-channel in the furnace-wall and to the flues 7', and the temperature can thereby be lowered in a short time.

The operation of oxidizing and of calcining or roasting can be carried on simultaneously in the furnace with Athe high calcining-chamber or cone and the operation of oxidizing and smelting in the furnace without the high calcining-chamber or cone. In either casethefuelis used to the best advantage. The oxidation is effected by throwing air and steam in between the ore and the i'iame, (not into the ore, as is usually done,) and in smeltingthecrucihles can be conveniently arranged below the arched base on the hearth.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arched base N or Nit, between the iire-place or fire-places and the calcining or oxidining chambers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The flues j m n or j* mit n* and dampers 7c l or 7c* l* in combination with the chambers above and below the arched base N or Nit, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Gausin g jets of steam and hot air to issue between the flames and the heated ores, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The arrangement ot' a partition-wall, c or 0*, containing one or more water-chambers, g or 9*, and one or more air-chambers, h or hl, in combination with the fire-place or tire-places, and with the hearth or base on which-the ore is placed, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The water-chambers w, with jets a', in combination with the heated base N and lirelues q, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The arrangement ofthe radiating-dues r or rit, in combination with ire-flues q or qlt, escape-fines s or 8*, and with a suitable suctionblower, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The annular air-flue b in the furnacewall M, in combination with the radiatingliues r and escape-hue s, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

S. The arrangement of air-ues j", in combination with the iire-iiuesq or .qipartition-wall c or ci, and with the hearth or base of the furnace, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

9. The employment of one or more condensers, Q, incombination with the escape-hue s or 8*, leading from the furnace, and with a suitable suction-blower constructed and operating substantially as and for vthe purpose set forth.

Witnesses: W. KENDRIOK.

W. HAUFF, E. KASTENHUBER. 

